How Well Do You Know Your Wedding Photography Styles? Let’s take the Quiz!

 

If you read my previous post about what the different types of wedding photography styles, are you ready for a quiz to identify which style is which?

The 3 main types of wedding photography styles are called “Traditional Wedding Photography”, “Photojournalistic Wedding Photography” and “Fine Arts Wedding Photography”.

I might throw some other types of wedding styles terminology at you like “classic”, “timeless”, “candid”, “documentary”, “editorial”, and “lifestyle”.  So let’s find out how well you can identify different types of wedding photography styles.

I felt I had to write the blog after seeing a request from a bride who wrote, “My vision is a dark but light feeling wedding. Have certain colors stand out while also having the light ones involved.” Um… this is totally incoherent because of it’s contradictions. I’m not sure every photographer responded because it incorporates ALL styles of wedding photography or if nobody responded because this style doesn’t exist. Let’s help you out a bit.

 

Let’s The Different Types of Wedding Photography Styles Quiz Begin:

 

Each of the three photo series come from the same wedding. It’s not unusual for wedding photographers to mix and blend styles throughout the day. This gives wedding clients traditional poses for family photos, photojournalistic for all those behind the scene’s moments and a hint of fine arts for creative storytelling.

 

Are you ready?  Quiz Question 1 :

Which of these is the Fine Arts wedding photo? Which is Photojournalistic and which is traditional? Can you put them in order? This one’s tricky!

 

 

 

 

 

Answer #1: C, B, A.  I think you could make an argument that A is also Fine art and that C is also photojournalism since it was a found moment. B is just goofy, so is that considered a type of wedding photography? It is in my book.

 

 

Quiz Question #2: Which type of wedding photography is this?

Which is Traditional, which wedding photography style is fine arts and which one is editorial / candid? I made this one super easy.

 

 

 

 

Answers for #2 Quiz: C, B, A. No wiggle room on this one! You can’t get much more fine arts wedding photography style than taking photos through a line up of glasses.

 

Quiz Question # 3: The nuance of differences between wedding photography styles

 

You’ve got this! Can you see that even classic wedding party photos can have a little personality and fun in them? Ready?

Which one is storytelling, which is classic and which is artsy?

 

 

 

Answer for #3?  You could make a strong case that there is something timeless and classic about all three images, except there is a dude walking straight into what would be a fairly classic wedding photo is B and the bride in C is actually trying to get her shoe on. But with this framing and lighting, I would argue C is fine art. So the answer is:  B, A, C.

How are you doing? Feeling like you’re getting the hang of labeling different wedding styles? Or are you getting confused because sometimes the lines are blurred? If so, you’re on to something.

I often am setting up a more classic photo when something will happen or someone laughs and the photos completely takes on a life of its own.

 

 

Quiz Question # 4: When types of wedding photography collide.

Ready for a laugh? I never knew what was next for this couple. Perhaps this is why they hired a photojournalist to photograph their destination wedding at Lake Walloon, Michigan.

What types of wedding photo styles do you see here? Which image is timeless? Which is is artistic and which one is completely candid?

 

 

 

 

Answer #4: I’m thinking, A, B, C works, but the A is quite artistic in it’s composition and B is a sweet portrait (but unplanned) and C, well… This started as a normal, traditional pose until they did this for a millisecond (it was cold and rainy) to show off their “true Scott” wearing of their kilts. So yes, traditional wedding photos can be artistic, and candid moments can come during very traditional posing. This is when it’s helpful to have a photojournalist who can capture all those unexpected candid moments.

 

 

Quiz Question # 5: Here’s an easy one to spot the differences between types of wedding photography styles!

 

 

 

 

So this may seem pretty obvious. A, B, C. The first is a traditional portrait at the church. Not knowing what the weather was going to be like later at Pine Knob Mansion, and knowing their church is important to them, I took more classic, traditional posed photos at the church than normal. While we were waiting for the rest of the wedding party, the groom knelt down to adjust the bride’s shoes for her. Super cute spontaneous moment, aka photojournalism in action. Towards the end of the night, it did start to rain. Turns out the bride LOVES rain. So this artistic (rain in the dark is hard to get just right) photo also had a fun moment when the groom decided to only cover himself with the umbrella.

 

You’re doing great, right? Should we try another, more sneaky challenge?

 

Quiz Question # 6: Now that you’re a pro at identifying different types of wedding photography. You’ve got this!

 

 

 

 

So these three photo blur the lines a bit. If you couldn’t see people on the dance floor with the bride and groom, you might think this is a posed photo. There is also some motion thanks to her wedding dress, which gives it an artistic touch. But yeah, it’s a lifestyle, found moment. Totally photojournalistic.  B) Is traditional, but also has a fine arts quality in the framing and lighting. So is it still classic? I’d say yes. And finally the first photo. A) is completely fine arts. Looks like a traditional wedding photo, right? This photo is completely composited from 3 images. The couple were never there. So why didn’t you get rid of the delivery truck in the photo? Well, perfection is highly overrated in my book and it adds a touch of authenticity to the photo in my opinion. That’s what makes it “fine art”! So yeah, I think you can make a case for each of these falling into at least two categories; win/win!

 

So how did you do on the quiz?

 

Hopefully your takeaway is that while traditional and classic wedding photography is often more staged with couples looking directly at the photographer, there is plenty of room to also find playful moments while photographing formal photos.

Photojournalistic wedding moments abound through any wedding day. You just have to have a photographer who is patient and attentive enough to see them and quick enough to capture them. Seasoned pros can see a moment coming a mile a way and capture the lead up, the moment and the resulting reaction to the hilarity. This is why it’s called documentary. It’s a super popular type of style of wedding photography, but it’s hard to find a really, truly superb wedding photojournalist.

And finally, what makes a fine art photo artistic and different from other types and styles of wedding photography? This, I think, is the most subjective. What is deemed “artistic” and “fine art” are totally in the eye of the person appreciating it. You, the viewer, assign the label of  “creative”, “original”, “imaginative” or “exquisite”. Hopefully all photographers bring their own unique eye to the wedding delivering one of a kind, original artwork of your wedding day starring YOU.

 

Well done! Now you’re an expert at picking out different types and styles of wedding photography. A plus for you! Which is your favorite?